The Washington Capitals can do for David Leggio what the Buffalo Sabres cannot: Give him a place to play.

Leggio, the Rochester Americans most valuable player the past two seasons, has signed a one-year contract with the Capitals organization.

He is expected to play with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, while providing capable experience on the NHL depth chart behind Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth.

He'll be joined in Hershey by Greece native Derek Whitmore, his former teammate with the Amerks in 2011-12 and the Portland Pirates in 2010-11. Whitmore signed an AHL deal with the Bears.

"When you go to a new place, you have to start over and make a good first impression," Leggio said. "It's great to still have an opportunity to play in the American League and potentially move up to the NHL."

To play in the NHL is something Leggio never had a chance to do in his three years in the Sabres organization. He played all of 2010-11 with the Pirates and the past two with the Amerks, but was never called up to Buffalo.

"I just wish I had a chance to throw on that sweater just once in Buffalo. But it's OK, it just wasn't mean to be," said Leggio, a Williamsville native. "I can't be more grateful for the opportunity I've gotten in the Sabres organization. Being able to play in Rochester and train in Buffalo all summer, it has been exciting for my family."

Leggio's departure from Rochester was a foregone conclusion. The Sabres told him in late June that they would not offer him a contract due to their logjam at the goaltending position.

Incumbents Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth are 1-2 in Buffalo and the Sabres want three-year veteran Matt Hackett, acquired in the Jason Pominville trade on April 3, to play often for the Amerks.

The Sabres also have Connor Knapp and Nathan Lieuwen returning for their second pro seasons, and Andrey Makarov is turning pro.

The Sabres had said they might be able to offer Leggio a contract at a later date. That presumably would be predicated on their ability — or desire — to trade Miller.

But there was no reason for Leggio to sit, wait and hope for a deal from the Sabres when other teams were making offers. His contract was finalized on Saturday.

"To have something on the second day of free agency is nice, to not have to worry," he said. "It's exciting to go to a great organization, and Hershey has a championship-caliber team every year, so that's exciting too."

Leggio, who turns 29 on July 31, had a 38-24-1 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 2012-13. He led the AHL in wins and minutes played, and ranked fifth in save percentage. He also was a league-best 9-1 in shootouts. He played nearly eight more games than any other goalie.

The Capitals had an opening on their organizational depth chart after Dany Sabourin signed to play in Europe.

"I loved playing in Rochester," Leggio said. "It was a really good chapter in my life and I'll really miss it."

Whitmore, 28, scored 28 goals and 44 points for the Amerks in '11-12 but was not re-signed last summer by the Sabres. He played most of the past season with Augsburger of the Germany league (9-14-23 in 26 games) after starting with St. John's of the AHL on a tryout contract.

He exercised an out clause in his contract with Augsburger to return to North America.